WFSE members negotiating our 2025-2027 union contracts are being offered next to nothing by the state. In some contracts, employers are proposing takeaways. Read the press release.
Here's how we're taking action.
Statewide Walkouts 9/10. RSVP Today!
At 12:00 pm September 10, WFSE members statewide, at all employers, agencies and colleges, will be walking out of work and standing in solidarity to demand fair contracts.
We're doing this for ourselves and our families, for each other, and for the folks who depend on our work. A fair contract can't wait.
Find a Walkout Near You or Lead Your Own
Here's what to expect
Click the link here to see map of scheduled walkouts.
No walkout planned at your worksite? You can sign up to be a walkout leader. Leaders will receive a Walkout for Washington toolkit with stickers, a suggested agenda, signs, posters, and ways to elevate your walkout on social media.
Walkouts are to be coordinated around breaks or scheduled vacation.
Remote employees: You are encouraged to attend an in person event near your home if possible. RSVP to your nearest event and meet at the assembly area for the event. A coordinated virtual action is also planned for employees who cannot step away. Click here.
Resources:
- Use this flyer to drive turnout to your event or encourage fellow local members to register to lead a walkout.
- See all items from our Walkout for Washington Toolkit here, as well as Teams backgrounds and digital items.
- Have video/pictures from your worksite? Send them here!
Action to Build Support with the Public
Download the Flyer!
Let's show that the public is on our side! Print this sign and bring it to your favorite local businesses and ask them to display it in their windows. Take a picture with the owners holding the sign or when it's up in the shop window and send it to [email protected] or tag us @wfsec28 on socials. We'll give them free exposure as a union-friendly shop!
Quick Links
- Find Bargaining Updates for Your Contract
- See Pictures from Our Campaign and Download the Toolkit
- Learn about the Negotiations Process
- Submit a Quote and Picture Here to Support Your Bargaining Team
- Missing Updates? Provide Contact Info Here
- Not a Union Member? Join Here.
Download the Contract Campaign Toolkit
Signs, Posters, Social Media Graphics: Download the Toolkit Here!
Our theme for this year's contract campaign is United for Washington. There's a lot of pain and frustration in communities across our state. Many of the problems facing working families feel too big to tackle. Those are the problems that we solve as public servants.
As our bargaining teams negotiate at the table, we need our members to communicate to the public and our employers the value of the work we do and how we help each and every Washingtonian.
That's how we win public support and put pressure on management to give us the pay and the tools we need to do our jobs.
Watch the full contract campaign playlist on Youtube
Learn About the Negotiations Process
Bargaining Teams Elected and Trained
After a weeklong vote in December and several run-off elections the first week of January, WFSE members selected the coworkers they want negotiating our 2025-2027 union contracts. Find your bargaining team here.
All WFSE members that negotiate our contracts undergo training to learn what wins at the bargaining table. Trainings are occuring between February and April. See pictures here.
Review Contract Proposals and Send Out Bargaining Survey
Throughout April, bargaining teams have been reviewing and vetting contract proposals that have been submitted by members over the previous year. Watch the video above to learn what "vetting" your proposals means.
After our bargaining teams review all the contract proposals from the membership, they will put together a bargaining survey containing the most requested contract priorities. Members will then be able to rank those priorities from most important to least important.
The survey helps our bargaining teams focus on what matters most to our members and develop campaigns as necessary to put pressure on management.
Contract Negotiations
With the information from the Bargaining Survey in hand, your bargaining team can begin crafting their initial proposal to the employer. The employer will develop their initial proposal, and negotiations will begin throughout April and May and continue through the summer until we have a tentative agreement that our members can vote on.
Once bargaining kicks off, you can find all updates for your contract posted here.
As Mike and Ashley explain in the video above, we cannot share precise details of what's occurring at the bargaining table until we've reached a tentative agreement that our members can vote on.
Who negotiates our contracts? Members do.
WFSE members negotiate our contracts alongside a negotiations expert from WFSE staff.
The members representing us at the bargaining table have serious responsibilities that affect the lives of thousands of WFSE members, including:
- Developing the initial bargaining proposal to be presented to the employer
- Negotiating with the employer
- Approving final contract language and making recommendations to union siblings on whether they believe the proposed agreements should be approved or rejected
Bargaining teams have the power to alter, modify, change, or concede on all issues to obtain the best possible contracts and reach a tentative agreement, or declare that the team has reached an impasse. They are truly your representatives at the table.
